Flights ‘cheaper than a carton of beer’

TRAVELLERS can fly to destinations around Australia for less than the price of carton of beer thanks to cut-price airline Tiger Airways. 

As part of its latest discount assault on rivals Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Blue, Tiger Airways has aggressively cut the cost of some of its airfares.

For a limited time some of Tiger’s one-way flights from Sydney to Melbourne cost as little as $25.51, the Gold Coast to Melbourne from $23.33, or Adelaide to Perth costs $22.78, including taxes, The Advertiser reports.

But there is a catch. While there are 30,000 seats available for various destinations, the price is for a one-way flight which must be taken on a Tuesday or a Wednesday between August 4 and March 24.

The discount flights aren’t available during the summer school holidays, from December 15 to January 27, or on March 9 and 10.

Tiger Airways says the fares include all fees and taxes, so in essence, it is giving away the seat on the plane.

The fares include up to 7kg of carry-on luggage, but passengers are charged $10 for up to 15kg and $35 for up to 25kg of check-in luggage. The one-way discount fares include Adelaide to Sydney for $28.76 and to Melbourne for $25.14.

“For the price of a couple of movie tickets or a few beers you can travel some of Tiger Airways’ most popular routes midweek,” Tiger commercial director Steve Burns said.

“While everyone’s tightening their belts in the current economic climate, it’s nice to know you can still take a short break or get that work-life balance back on track with incredible deals like this.”

Comparable airfares from Adelaide to Perth aboard Jetstar during the same period currently cost $79, with Virgin Blue’s from $89 and Qantas’s from $129.

King William Travel manager Sandra Cosic said people needed to be wary of what they received for a low fare, taking into account extra charges for luggage and other services.

“But there are some great deals out there,” she said.

Tiger’s 30,000-seat “Just Pay Taxes and Charges” sale is on until midnight tomorrow.

HOW TO PAY FOR YOUR FARE

Don’t buy that carton of Platinum Pure Blonde for the weekend. SAVE $37.98.

Instead of heading out for dinner, stay at home and eat in. SAVE $20-$30.

Wait for that new movie to hit the DVD shelves instead of catching it on opening night. SAVE $34.

Give up that manicure. Your nails can wait a little longer. SAVE $40.

Bring instant coffee to work for a week instead of buying two a day. SAVE $35.

Catch public transport to work for a week instead of driving. SAVE $40.

Source  :  www.news.com.au

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Why Australia?

Quality of Life                              

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. Though it’s nearly 50% larger than Europe, it has the lowest population density of any country, with only two people per square kilometre. What’s more, Australia boasts over 10,000 beaches – more than any other nation.  

Add to that tropical rainforests, rugged mountain ranges and vast tracts of desert, and you’ve got a country that’s rich in contrast and bursting with opportunity. Australia’s diversity is world famous for a reason, and it’s yours to enjoy.

With the reverse seasons to those in the northern hemisphere, Australia enjoys a largely temperate climate. Most of Australia receives more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, an amazing 70% of the total possible hours.

Where else can you find a home with an average of 300 sunny days per year? That’s 300 more great reasons to move to Australia! Australia is culturally diverse, dynamic and innovative, with an enormous amount to offer migrants and returning Australians. It’s little wonder more than 30,000 Brits and South Africans make Australia their new home each year.

Expos

London : 13th June 2009

Manchester : 4th July 2009

Cape Town : 9 September 2009

Johannesburg :  12 – 13 September 2009

Durban : 15th September 2009

http://www.expo-australia.com/seminars.aspx

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The Federal Budget Summary

The Economy
Deficit $57.593 billion
Unemployment 8.25 per cent
Economic Growth -0.5 per cent of GDP
Inflation 1.75 per cent
First Home Owners Boost continued for six months
Small Business and General Tax Break increased to 50 per cent for order this calendar year

Infrastructure spending

A total of $22 billion including $8.5 billion for road, rail and port.
$3.2b for West Werribee to Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station
$40m towards design of Melbourne’s East-West rail tunnel
$365m for light rail corridor for the Gold Coast
$20m for planning new corridors in Brisbane
$294m to upgrade Adelaide’s Gawler line
$291m to extend Noarlunga to Seaford line
$61m to extend O-Bahn track in Adelaide
$236m towards central city section of Perth to Fremantle line
$91m for design work on Sydney West metro from Central to Westmead Road ($3.4b)
$1.5b for Hunter Expressway linking the F3 and New England Highway in NSW
$618m towards dual carriageway bypass of Kempsey on the Pacific Highway, NSW
$488m to replace 25km of Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Curra in Qld
$844m to upgrade Ipswich Motorway, Qld Ports ($389m)
$50m for Port of Darwin’s East Arm
$339m for development of common facilities at Port of Oakajee in

WA energy

$4.5b on new clean energy initiative

Education

$5.3b on tertiary education, research and innovation
$934m for 11 teaching, eight research and 12 vocational training projects
$901m for 21 research projects in space, marine, climate and nuclear science
$750m for future funding rounds of the Education Investment Fund
$491m to uncap number of university places from 2012
$437m over four years to provide university education for the disadvantaged
$500m to encourage research, development and commercialisation of ideas
$512m to help universities fund research

Health

$2.5b over five years to drive hospital and health workforce reform
$3.2b from Health and Hospitals Fund to modernise hospitals and improve cancer facilities
$121m over four years to relieve pressure on maternity services
$134m on rural health workforce strategy
Private health insurance rebate reduced for higher income earners
Medicare Levy Surcharge increased
Families

$731m over five years for paid parental leave scheme

Superannuation

Halving of salary sacrifice into super to $25,000 a year for those under 50 and to $50,000 a year for those over 50.

Cut in Government super contribution from $1,500 to $1,000 for those earning less than $60,000 a year

Aged

Pension age increased progressively to 67 years by 2023
Rate at which the pension is withdrawn with private income increased to 50 cents in the dollar
Single Pensioners to get extra $32.49 per week
Couple pensioners to get extra $10.14 per week
New $600 a year Carer Supplement for all Carer Payment recipients, on top of an increase in their pension
Carer allowance recipients to get extra $600 a year for each person in their care

Immigration

Skilled migrant intake slashed by 20 per cent
Extra $650m in funding for border protection

Public broadcasting

ABC to get extra $150m in funding over next three years
SBS to get extra $20m over next three years

www.sbs.com.au

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Budget wish list – single mother

Sarah MacPherson has a 19-year-old daughter living at home.

“I think people should be realistic that we’re in unusual economic times and that the government might need to hand down an unusual budget to respond,” she said.

“I really hope the Government looks after the most vulnerable in society, the pensioners, the carers, single parents.

“I’m happy for them to increase taxes on cigarettes and alcopops, because the youngsters with the alcopops and cigarettes are just a horror, aren’t they?”

After a long period as a PAYE worker Sarah’s career is in transition as she looks to start up a technology-based business

She says that in the current economic climate, where people may be losing their jobs, the Government needs to provide
stimulus packages for small startup companies.

On the broader economy, Sarah says first homeowners are the only segment of the housing market keeping the “crucial” building industry afloat right now.

“I would look at them to continue the first home owners grant to stimulate the economy via house sales,” she says.

“I do have quite a few friends with kids older than (my daughter) and they’re all trying to get in before the end of June, because the Government has only promised the boosted grant until then.”

Sarah believes Treasurer Wayne Swan’s mooted investment in primary school infrastructure will provide economic stimulus in the short term, and benefit society in the long term.

She also says the GST charged on sanitary products should be dropped immediately.

“That’s an absolute necessity for women.”

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/budget

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